Outrage of the day: Senate whiffs on gun measures

It was bad enough that the U.S. Senate could not bring itself to ban assault weapons or high-capacity ammunition magazines. But its unwillingness to approve even the most fundamental gun control measure — extending background checks to gun shows and online sales — is beyond outrageous. Really now?! Can’t we all agree that felons and people with serious mental illnesses should not have easy access to firearms?

Apparently not.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., implored her colleagues to “show some guts” right before the vote on her amendment to revive the assault weapons ban. Too many did not.

President Obama blamed the lies of the gun lobby and its allies for bringing down this eminently sensible amendment. The gun lobby had fanned fears that the background checks would lead to a national registry — even though the measure expressly prohibited one.

Join the public debate. Do you think the Senate was right to reject these three amendments? If not, what do you think it might take to get lawmakers to act? Send us your letters to the editor via our online form.